Mechanism for feeding sheets of paper, &amp; c.



3 shanty-Sheet l1 Patented Aug. 7, |900.

(Application filed Aug. 21, 1899.)

H. BILGRAM & 0. L. SCHEHL.

MECHANISM FOB FEEDING SHEETS 0F PAPER, &c.

No. 655,668.v

(No Model.)

mi nonms PETERS cd': PHoTaLl'rv-lo., wAsMlNurcN. u. c.

No. 655,668. Patented Aug. 7, |900..

H. BILGRAM & 0. L. SCHEHL. MECHANISM FOR FEEDING SHEETS 0F PA'PER, &c. (Application filed Aug. 21, 1899.)

(No Model.)

Fiyi

3 SheetswSheet 2.

` [J G f Q Q (D Patented Aug. 7, |900. H. BILGRAM & 0. L. SGHEHL.

MECHANISM FOR FEEDING SHEETSlUF PAPER, 81.0.

(Application led Aug. 21, 1899.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' VWX/265565:

Inventum: [fz/y0 2i/gram STATES PATENT Enron.

HUGOBILGRAM AND osoAR L. sonEnL, on PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssieNoRs To GEORGE w. EAOKLER, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

MECHANISMFORFEEDING SHEEVTS OF PAPER, 89C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 655,668, dated August 7, 1900. Application tiled August 21, 1899I Serial No. 728,029. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HUGO BILGRAM, a citizen of the United States, and OSCAR L. SOHEHL, a subject of the King of Prussia,

Emperor of Germany, both residing in the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Mechanism for Feeding Sheets of Paper and Sheets of Similar Material, of which 1o the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to mechanism for successively feeding individual sheets of paper or sheets of similar material from the bottom of a pile of superimposed sheets,

I5 so that they can be readily delivered to printing, folding, and wrapping mechanisms or other mechanisms or devices adapted to operate upon them.

The object of the invention is to provide a zo simple mechanism by which the individual sheets can be separated and delivered from the pile with rapidity, ease, and precision and in a smooth or unwrinkled condition for whatever use they may be adapted.

An important feature of the invention relates to the devices which feed the sheets forward,in connection with devices which merely support the pile, and to the vertically-changeable positions of the supporting devices rela- 3o tively to the feeding devices, by which the weight or downward pressure of the pile is alternately shifted from the feeding to the supporting devices,whereby the bottom sheet is largely relieved from frictional contact with the next sheet and can be fed forward by the application of a slight force andwithout liability of tearing or crumpling it, While the remaining sheets of the pile are securely held in place during the feed of the bottom 4o sheet and the return of the moving parts to their normal positions.

Another important feature of the invention relates to the construction, arrangement, and

operation of the feeding and supporting devices, whereby the bottom sheet can be fully removed beyond the limits of the pile by the contact of the feeding devices therewith before such devices come into feeding contact with the next sheet of the pile, and thereby the 5o liability of disturbing ordisarranging the suoceeding sheets of the pile is largely obviated.

Stated generally, the present invention consists in the devices and combinations of devices hereinafterset forth, and specically pointed out in the claims.

`rfhe accompanying drawings illustrate'one form and construction of mechanism embodying the present invention and by the operation of which its objects are attained, in which- Figure l is a cross-section along the broken 6o line l l of Fig. 2, the cam-wheel being broken away to show certain parts beyond.. Fig. 2 is an end elevation seen from the left hand of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is atop View of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figs. l and 2. Fig. 4. is a cross-section along the line 4 4. of Fig. l, showing the construction, arrangement, and operation of the vertically-movable parts, some of the parts located on each side of the section being shown'. Fig. 5 is across- 7o section along the line 5 5 of Fig. l, showing the starting feedroll and adjacent parts. Fig. Gis an end elevation of the feed-rolls and adjacent parts. Figs. '7, S, and 9 are longitudinal, central sections showing the movable parts in various positions during the feed of a sheet, and Figs. 10, ll, and l2 show wheels with cam-grooves therein and connections for moving the operative parts of the mechanism. 8o

Referring to the mechanism shown in the drawings, A represents the base, and B the standards, which support a table C and the various devices mounted thereon, as sheetcontaining receptacle D, sliding carrier E, starting-roll F, vertically-movable heel pieces or supports G, toe pieces or supports H, and feed-rolls I.

W represents the d riving-wheel of the mechanism, fixed to a main or driving shaft S. 9o

The :receptacle D is provided with an open top and preferably with an opening in one of its sides for feeding in the sheets and is supported on or above the table C by any suitable means, so that its forward lower edge is sufficiently above, the table to permit 'thecarrier E to move between it and the table and leave a space between this edge and the carrier for the travel of the bottom sheet onA its way to the feed-rolls I," lhich are preferably loo located so that their bite will be in a horizontal plane with the fed or bottom sheet. The

rear lower edge of the receptacle D is shown as raised above the table C to permit of the free movement of the jointed tops of the arms of the levers which are connected to the moving parts, as hereinafter more fully described; butthis edge is preferably slightly lower than the opposite or forward edge to provide an abutment for the lower sheets of the pile. The bottom of the receptacle on which the pile of sheets X is supported or rests is composed of movable surfaces-viz. a reciprocating sliding carrier E, a starting-roll F, heelpieces G, and toe-pieces H-and the relative positions of the supporting-surfaces of these parts when at rest or in their normal positions are seen in Fig. 7, invwhich the upper surfaces of the carrier E and the roll F are in substantially the same horizontal plane,while the upper surfaces of the heel-piece G and the toe-piece H are in a lower plane than those of the carrier and roll, the upper surface of the toe-piece H being lower than that of the heelpiece G, so that the weight of the pile of sheets in the receptacle is sustained or rests mainly upon the carrier E and the roll F and not at all or only very slightly on the heelpieces G or upon the toe-pieces H. By referring to Fig. 3 it is seen that the carrier E occupies a central position of the width of the receptacle D atl its forward end and that the toe-pieces H are located on either side of it; also, that the heel-pieces G are located at the rear of the receptacle and that the slide which operates the carrier E moves between the heel-pieces, while the roll F is located above and across the path of the slide and lbetween the carrier and the toe-pieces on its one side and the heel-pieces on its other.

The special construction and arrangement of the several important operative parts of the mechanism and their connections to t-he main shaft forgiving them their desired movements are as follows: The carrier E, having its supporting-surface coated with sandpaper or otherwise sufficiently roughened and its forward end preferably made thin, is mounted upon a piece E', constructed and arranged to slide in ways E2 lengthwise of the table C, its range of reciprocation being seen by comparing the positions shown in Figs. 7 and 9. It is moved forward and backward through suitable jointed connections with the top of vertical arm E2 of a bell-crank lever arranged to rock on a stationary shaft K, whose lower arm is controlled by a cam-groove in ca m-wheel E5,fixed to the main shaft S, to which it is connected by a cam-roller, the shape of the groove shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings being such as to give a forward and backward throw to the upper end of lever-arm E3 sufficient to give the desired sliding reciprocation to the carrier at each rotation of the wheel E5. The starting-roll F, having its periphera surface covered with sandpaper or otherwise provided with a suitably-roughened surface, is journaled in supports F on table C and is arranged to be rotated in opposite directions through a gear-wheel F2, fixed to its shaft and actuated by a rack-arm F2, which is jointed to the upper end of vertical arm Fflof a bellcrank lever arranged to rock on stationary shaft K, while its other arm F5 is provided with a cam-roller controlled by a cam-groove in wheel F6, fixed to the main drivin g-shaft S of the machine. The cam-groove shown in Fig. lO of the drawings is so shaped as to give the arm F4 and rack F 3 a forward and backward throw sufficient to cause the roll F to rotate forward and backward about one-half of its circumference to each rotation of the eamwheel F6. The rack F3 is held to its proper position on the gear-wheel F2 by a suitablymounted friction-roller F7.

The heel-pieces G and the toe-pieces H have a vertically-reciprocating movement, the former being located on either side of the slide E and the latter on either side of the carrier E. They are conveniently formed in two pieces or halves, each containing a heel-piece and a toe-piece, the former mounted on a backward and laterally extending branch G and the latter upon a vertical and laterally extending branch G2 of a common shaft or stalk G3, and when these halves are inserted into position through openings in the table C they are secured together by screws M or other suitable means passing through their shafts or stalks and clamping them to an intermediate post N, which is arranged to slide up and down in ways O in a downward projection P of the table G, this construction and arrangement being shownin Figs. 1, 4, and 7 of the drawings. The necessary vertical reciprocation of these parts is given by connecting the post N to cam-wheel G4, fixed to driving-shaft S, through a cam-roll G5, which is controlled by a cam-groove (shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings) in the wheel, so shaped as to give the desired upward and downward movement to the parts G and H at each rotation of the wheel. The upper or sheet-supporting surfaces of the heel and toe pieces are in horizontal planes; but the heel-pieces, as before stated, are in a somewhat-higher plane than the toe-pieces, and their upper surfaces are preferably roughened, while the upper surfaces of the toe pieces or supports should be smooth.

The feed-rolls I are located slightly in front of the receptacle D, the lower one being journaled in standards l,fxed to the table C,while the upper one is journaled in pillow-blocks andis adjusted by a spring l2. The lower roll is driven through sprocket-wheels 13 and I4 and chain l5 and the upper one by connecting gear-wheels 16. These rolls are made or cut away centrally of the length of their shafts to provide an opening Q for the entrance of the forward thin end of the carrier E, and the rolls preferably have a speed equal to that of the carrier in its forward movement. vance of the feed-rolls is shown an endless belt R, onto which the sheets may be fed and by which they may be delivered to other IOO IIO

In admechanisms. This belt, however, constitutes no part of the present invention, and any other delivery device may be substituted therefor which will operate to deliver the sheets to any special mechanism or device ladapted to operate upon them for any purpose.

A rounded bar or roll T, located slightly in rear of the carrier E and mounted in standards, may be used to advantage to control the drag of the loosened rear part of the sheet and to keep it from wrinkling as it is moved for ward by the carrier E.

The operation of the mechanism described and shown is as follows: Starting with the parts'in their normal positions of rest,as shown in Fig. 7 ,where the weight of the pile of sheets is mainly supported by or rests upon the carrier E and the starting-roll F and not at all or only slightly upon the heel-pieces G, the rotation of the roll F in a forward direction while the carrier E is stationary causes, through its frictional contact with the bottom sheet, the rear end of this sheet to be moved forward and away from the heel-pieces G, the loosened part of the sheet being looped or buckled between the roller F and the rear of the carrier E or the bar T, if used, as seen Ain Fig. 8. Immediately the rear end of the sheet has passed beyond the heel-pieces they begin to rise, lifting the pile from the roller F and leaving the rear part of the bottom sheet free to be carried forward by the forward movement of the carrier E, which begins as soon as the heel-pieces have received the rear weight of the pile and feeds the sheet bodily forward through its frictional contact therewith and carries its forward end into the bite of the feed-rolls I, the heavy contact of the next sheet of the series with the raised heel-pieces effectually preventing that sheet from moving forward or being disarranged by frictional contact with the forward-moving bottom sheet. Although the heel-pieces G and the toe-pieces H rise and fall together, yet the toe-pieces, being in a lower plane, do not come in contact with the sheets until the carrier E has fed the forward end of the sheet into the bite of the rolls Lwhen the toe-pieces will have risen sufciently to receive the forward weight of the pile,which has been sustained by the carrier E, and permit the carrier to` move back to its normal position without disturbing the next sheet of the series. While the carrier E is moving back to its normal position the rolls I draw or feed the bottom sheet over the smooth surfaces of the toesupports H and beyond the limits of the pile, and thereupon the heel and toe supports fall to their normal positions and the feeding devices are brought into contact with and ready to operate upon the next sheet of the pile,as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

It will be observed that in the operation just described the upward movement of the heel-pieces shifts the rear weight of the pile from the starting-roller as soon as the rear end of the bottom sheet has been fed beyond the heel-pieces, thus leaving the rear part of the sheet free to be fed forward by the carrier E while the next sheet is held by the heel-pieces; also, that when the carrier has completed its forward movement the forward weight of the pile is shifted from the carrier to and sustained by the toe-pieces while the carrier moves back to its normal position, and that these conditions are repeated as every sheet is fed from the bottom of the pile.

It is especially observed that the feeding devices do not come into feeding contact with the second sheet of the pile or the sheet next above the bottom sheet until the bottom sheet is fully removed beyond the limits of the pile, and consequently the tendency to disarrange or disturb the next sheet by the contact of the feeding devices therewith before they have fed the bottom sheet beyond the limits of the pile, which is the mode of operation in some machines of this class, is fully obviated.

It will be understood that the several operative parts of the mechanism must be properly timed, so that their movements, as above described, will take place in the proper succession and will be continued for a sufiicient period to accomplish the results set forth.

It is not intended to limit this invention to the special construction and arrangement of the several parts of the mechanism herein described, and shown in the drawings, or to the special means by which the movable parts are operated, or to divided heel and toe pieces, or to a centrally-operating reciprocating carrier, or to heel and toe supports having an,

actual vertical movement, since it is evident that 'many of the parts may be changed in their construction and that the verticallymoving supports may be made stationary and the requisite vertical movement of the sheets of the pile may be given by causing a vertical movement to be given to the feeding devices without departing from the principle of the invention as herein described and hereinafter claimed.

Vhat is claimed as new isl. In a mechanism for feeding sheets of paper from the bottom of a pile, the combination, substantially as set forth,of devices constructed and operating to feed the bottom sheet beyond the limits of thepile before coming into feeding contact with the next sheet of the pile, and supporting devices having a vertical movement relatively to the feeding devices whereby the weight of the pile is temporarily shifted from the feeding devices to the supporting devices for the purposes set forth.

2. In a mechanism for feeding sheets of paper from the bottom of a pile, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a feeding device and a support both operating beneath the rear of the pile, and a longitudinally-reciprocating feeding device and a support both operating beneath the forward end of the pile, the-supports having a vertical move- IOO IIC

ment relatively to the feeding devices, Whereby the rear end of the bottom sheet is fed forward and the rear weight of the pile is shifted from the rear feeding device to the rear support and the sheet is then fed bodily forward by the reciprocating feeding device and the forward-Weight of the pile is shifted to the forward support and retained thereon while the feeding device makes its backward movement.

3. In a mechanism for feeding sheets of paper from the bottom of a pile, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a longitudinally-reciprocating feeding` device operating beneath the forward end of the pile, a

vpile and a supporting device located at the forward end of the pile and having a vertical movement relatively to the feeding device, whereby the bottom sheet of the pile is fed forward, the next sheet is held in place and the forward Weight of the pile is shifted from the reciprocating feeding device to the supporting device while the feeding device returns to its normal position.

4. In a mechanism for feeding sheets of paper `from the bottom of a pile, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a device operating beneath the rear end of the pile to frictionally feed the rear part of the bottom sheet forward, a device operating at the forward end of the pile to hold the forward end of the bottom sheet stationary while the rear feeding device operates, and a longitudinallyreciprocating device for feeding the bottom sheet forward bodily.

5. In a mechanism for feeding sheets of paper from the bottom of a pile, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a longitudinally-reciprocating feeding device arranged to operate beneath the forward part of the pile and having a roughened upper surface, a supporting device having a smooth upper surface and a vertical movement relatively to the feeding device, and a pair of rolls, as I, arranged to receive the fed sheet from the longitudinal feeding device and feed itbeyond the limits of the pile over the smooth supporting-surface.

6. In a mechanism for feeding sheets of paper from the bottom of a pile, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a longitudinally-reciprocating carrier, as E, a starting-roll, as F, the former arranged to support the' forward endv of a pileof sheets and the latter the rear end thereof, a vertically-reciprocating heel piece or support, as G, and means for operating the carrier, starting-roll and heel-piece, whereby the starting-roll will move the bottom sheet away from the heelpiece, the heel-piece will raise the remaining sheets of the pile from the starting-roll andv hold them in position while the carrier moves the bottom sheet bodily forward.

7. In a mechanism for feeding sheets of paper from the bottom of a pile, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a device operating beneath the rear of the pile to frictionally feed the rear part of the bottom sheet forward, a device operating beneath the forward part of the pile to hold the forward part of the bottom sheet stationary and subsequently feed the sheet forward, a verticallyreciprocating support or heel-piece located behind the rear feeding device, a verticallyreciprocating supporter toe-piece located near the forward feeding device, and means for operating the feeding devices and supports, whereby, as the rear part of the sheet is fed forward, the rear weight of the pile is shifted to the rear support and the remaining sheets are held in position while the sheet is fed bodily forward, and the forward weight of the pile is shifted to the forward support.

8. In a mechanism for feeding sheets of paper from the bottom of a pile, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a longitudinally-reciprocating carrier, as E, a starting-roll, as F, vertically-moving heel-pieces, as G, and toe-pieces, as H, and means for giving the required movements to the combined parts, for the purposes set forth.

9. In a mechanism for feeding sheets of paper from the bottom of a pile, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a longitudinally-reciprocating carrier, as E, a starting-roll, as F, a bar or roll, as T, verticallymoving heel-pieces, as G, and toe-pieces, as H, and means for giving the required movements to the several parts, for the purposes set forth.

lO. Ina mechanism for feeding sheets of paper from the bottom of a pile, the combination, substantially as set forth, of a longitudinally-reciprocating carrier, as E, having a roughened upper surface and constructed and operating to feed a bottom sheet forward, a support, as H, having a smooth upper surface and a vertical movement relatively to the carrier, and a pair of feed-rolls arranged to receive the bottom sheet from the carrier and draw it over the smooth support and beyond the limits of the pile.

HUGO BILGRAM. OSCAR L. SCHEHL. Witnesses:

IsAAo THOMPSON, J. RoLLIN PARKER.

ICO

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